Tufted cord



Patented Jan. 18, 1944 retos TUFTED CORD Application February 21, 1942,Serial No. 431,780

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a new article of manufacture constituting atufted cord. Such a tufted cord is an extended, rope-like article ofindefinite length, comprising a core-strand formed of longitudinalthreads twisted about the axis of the structure with tuft-formingelements intertwining with the core in such a manner as to extendsubstantially radially from the core. The article is useful in theformation of ornamental garlands, ropes, festoons, wreaths, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide such a tufted cord structurewhich is not made as articles of this general character have beenconventionally made, with a core constituted of a strand of fine wire,usually copper, with its attendant tendency to corrode and constitutingan electrical conductor, an element of hazard particularly in the eventof a short-circuit in a system of Christmas tree illumination, in whichenvironmenta garland, festoon or wreath of this character is generallyused for decorative purposes. In contradistinction, my novel tufted cordis made with a core of flexible fabric material, such as cotton or otherthread. The tuft forming elements are likewise made of a non-metallicmaterial. In the particular embodiment of my invention hereinafterdescribed, such elements are made of fiberglass or other thread of glassfilaments formed into strands and utilized to make the tuftssubstantially as chenille.

Thus, the entire structure of my novel tufted cord eliminates the use ofwire or metallic strands and yet is capable of being manufactured atextremely low cost, while serving satisfactorily essentialself-sustaining requirements, so that the glass threads or filaments aremaintained in their tuft-like radially extended position, and the dan-1eers from re due to electrical conductance are eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tufted cord structurewhich is loaded with paste by which the twist of the core and the erectcharacter of the tuft-forming elements are rendered self-sustaining whenthe cord has been dried.

An apparatus and method for producing my novel tufted cord structure isdescribed and illustrated in my copending application, Serial No.429,910, filed February '7, 1942. Reference is made to said copendingapplication for a detailed description of such method and apparatus.

A particular embodiment of my present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary detail View of alength or portion of tufted cord constructed in accordance with myinvention, and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the'reference characters 3 and 4 designatetwo core-strands constituted of longitudinal threads twisted about theaxis of the structure. The core-strand 3 is preferably of somewhatlesser diameter than the core-strand f3. Each component, or core-strandis formed of several threads, for instance, four. A multiplicity ofsubstantially radial tuft-forming elements 5 of fiberglass or similarglass filamented thread are intertwined with the corestrand threads 3and 4, the tuft-forming elements being loaded with paste 6.

A characteristic feature of my novel tufted cord is the permanentintertwinement of the tuftforming elements with the core-strands.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tufted cord comprising acore-strand composed of nonmetallic longitudinal threads twisted aboutthe axis of the structure, and a multiplicity ofsubstantially radialtuft-forming elements of lamented glass fibers intertwined with saidcorestrand threads, said combined core-strand threads and tuft-formingelements being loaded with paste and thereby constituting, when thepaste is set, a flexible, self-sustaining tufted cord.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a tufted cord comprising a pair ofcore-strands one of said core-strands being of substantially greaterdiameter than the other, each composed of a plurality of non-metalliclongitudinal threads, the corestrands being twisted about the axis ofthe structure, and a multiplicity of substantially radial tuffa-formingelements of glass fibers intertwined with said core-strand threads, saidcombined core-strand threads and tuft-forming elements being loaded withpaste and thereby constituting, when the paste is set, a flexible,self-sustaining tufted cord.

JOSEPH M. PETTOROSSI.

